Phonograph



Nov. 4, 1952 LEONARD 2,616,705

PHONOGRAPH Filed Oct. 12, 1946 7 Sheet s-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR. Geo/ 9 ffamzm Leona/"cl A RNEYS Nov. 4, 1952 Q L N 2,616,705

PHONOGRAPH Filed Oct. 12, 1946* 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Georye jfamZm/ Leonard M 'KQMJM ATTORJVE'YIY Nov. 4, 1952 G. H. LEONARD 2,616,705

' PHONOGRAPH Filed Oct. 12, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet s 57 Geo/ye li dmzz'n/ Leo 4 ATTORNEY Nov. 4, 1952 G. H. LEONARD 2,616,705

PHONOGRAPH Filed Oct. 12, 1946 1 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

BY W w1MK/MML ATTORNEY-5' G. H. LEONARD PHONOGRAPH '7 sheets-sh Filed Oct. 12, 1946 PHONOGRAPH OVERALL CYCLE G. H. LEONARD CHnRacr Luvm's Nov. 4, 1952.

Filed Oct. 12, 1946 PART i w m P S u 0 W n Q I I 1 0 I l I M 1 Q I. II. I 0 Ha u-WH- I I a M M F 5 a n a Ev s ne a m L 1: if A m..m s w n Av m m r s n Fm: 0am o P u z T a a c nmn z mimm WM xv i i mwx fimlmm i mm u w mn mawmmhwmfi wmwmmom u L n L r E ..L n E N E l ..N mu 0 v .5. n N LN 2 T u m n a WW W M 1L. m O Q W m Mi m M n" m an m mm 3. n l w u nm w m 3 W? m: 2 1 W Z Z W Z mm M. Z 1 w M WA V? v NP C V? MV P RV 56 P VP GP A P PA 7 E w R s a H M a M R e R e D o 5 c m R E WL RE E c N X5 e um a i am an E A a mu m v m m 5 mA v v w 1 3 mm w H mm fix E M m7? E m E o L o T 0 C m R m m R S R M P T .m T M A 6 A T T Patented Nov. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHONOGRAPH L George Hamlin-Leonard, Fairfield, Cnn., assignor to 'Arthur; A. Johnson, Bridgeport, Conn.,. as

trustee ApplicationOctober -12, 1946', SerialiNo. 702 9.05:-

In automatic record-changing phonographs:

heretofore known, it was customary to provide means-for supporting a stack of record disksabove aturntable, a mechanism for automatically'releasingthe records, one at a time,- to deposit'them' or allow them to fall ontheturntable; and means for moving the-tonearm-outward beyond record playing range after each record is played. Ordinarily the means for supporting, and releasing the records in such devicescomprises support memberswhich engage the edges of the records or portions of the records adiacent' the' spindle, and tend to chip or injure therecords as they are handled. In some constructions records are released in such a manner as to fall at an angle upon the turntable, tending to crack or break' the-records-When they are deposited thereon.

Devicesheretofore employed'for controlling the movement of the tone armand coordinating its control'with operation of the record supporting and" record releasing means are extremely complicated, diflicult andexpensive-to manufacture and assembleorrepair; and are subject to damage when parts-thereof are" casually or deliberately manipulated during automatic operatlon thereof or when the-mechanism is shut-off.

It is "an object of'this invention to provide-an automatic record-changing mechanism for a phonograph wherein the records are supported in a stack concentrically above the turntable, solely by means provided therefor in thespindle; and are released one by one to fall flat upon the turntable without any tendency to chip or damage any part of the record through engagement with thesupporting member, or incidental to a releasing or depositing operation.

It is also an object vofmy invention to provide support means which maintains the: stack of. records. in" stablehorizontal position parallel to. the-turntable and means for supporting: the, rest of the stack. duringrelease of the bottom:

record thereof, by gripping. the edge of the central aperturein'the records so .as. to distribute the force applied thereto over a. substantial surface and thus avoid-any tendency to damage or chip the records-as a result of the.grippingiaction.

I'nconnection with the foregoing objects, it isa-further-object to provide means formanipulating the irecord support means so as Ju -permit removal of the records from. the turntable after they havebeen played without danger of injury. thereto, and so as to reset the recordsupportmeans for receiving a new." stack. of, records, incidental to; placing; the records on the spindle.

Still another object is to provide.means.associated withpsaid record supportingandreleasing meansin. the spindle. for selectively controlling, operation of the tone arm to move the same.

either to;shut-off position if no recordis ,on the supportmeans, or to movedt-toinitialrecorde playing position after each. record. is released from the support means.

In. connection with the aforesaid means for controlling the position of the tone arm, it is an object to provide means operated in accord? ance with thesize of the record releasedtothe turntable, for moving the tone arm to the record playing position required... by the size of the released record;-

Another-object oftheinventionris to provide mechanism as aforesaid of novel and exceedingly.

simplified. construction.

Still another object is to provide motive power. means for effecting automatic operation of the record-changing device and controlling. the.

movement of the tone arm, preferably. deriving its power fromthe samesource. as rotation. of

the-turntable, said. motive power 'means, being intermittently operatedv after each record has.

been played to carry out a record releasingoperation of; the spindle. as well as-to move and adjust the tone arm: forplaying the record.

In. connection witheach of the various-parts of the mechanism, it is an object of myinvention.

to provide meansainterconnecting or coupling the various coordinatedparts thereof in such a manner asv toavoid damage to anypart bycasual or deliberate manipulation. of therecord changer,

during its-automatic operation or while; it is shut off, such means preferably including frictional couplings or. drive connections, permitting independentmovement of :the various parts, and. likewise adaptedtoreturnzto normal automatic operation. when such manipulation ceases.

Another object-1 is -to.-prov'ide manually operated means for. rejecting a record deposited. on

the turntable at any point in the playing thereof,

so that thenextrecordin the stack will be released' and played.

A further object-iscto providev means for movingrthe tone arm-to; shuteoff position after the lastrecord has, been; played and for stopping the motor or otherv motive; power means of the. record changer.

Furthermore, it is an object to provide a record-changing mechanism which can be readily mounted on the panel of a phonograph so as to be readily assembled therewith and removed therefrom and so mounted as to avoid transmission of shocks or vibration from the mechanism to other parts of the phonograph.

Further objects and advantages will appear from the following description taken in connec tion with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a perspective View of the top panel of an automatic record-changing phonograph in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan elevation of the mechanism of the device of Fig. l, with portions thereof including the panel and turntable removed to show underlying parts of the mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a bottom elevation of the mechanism of Fig. 3.

Figs. 5 and 6 are details in central vertical cross-section of the spindle of the recordchanging device.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail in plan elevation of releasable record-supporting means in the spindle of Figs. 5 and 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary detail in central vertical cross-section of the releasable recordsupport of the spindle of Figs. 5 and 6.

Fig. 9 is a detail in side elevation of the tone arm mounting and its operating mechanism.

Fig. 10 is a transverse section along the line i0lll in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a central vertical section of the tone arm mounting taken along the line llii in Fig. 12.

Fig. 12 is a transverse section along the line l2--l2 in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a detail in central vertical cross-section, along the line iii-i3 in Fig. 3, of the motive power device and spindle operating means of the record-changing mechanism.

Fig. 14 is a perspective detail of the motive power device of Fig. 13 including the starting mechanism therefor, and a motor switch control cooperating therewith.

Fig. 15 is a chart showing successive operations, coordinated in point of time, of various parts of my device during successive record-playing, changing, and rejecting operations, and a shut-- off operation.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the upper portion of the spindle of the recordchanging device, similar to Fig. 6 but drawn to a larger scale.

A preferred embodiment of the automatic record-changing phonograph of my invention herein described and illustrated includes such conventional phonograph elements as a top panel, a horizontal turntable for receiving record disks, a motor for rotating the turntable, and a tone arm having one end mounted to permit its opposite stylus-bearing end to be raised from or lowered to record-playing position and to swing angularly inward toward the center of the turntable for playing a record, and outward beyond the periphery of records on the turntable to inoperative position.

In combination with these conventional elements, my record-changing device comprises a spindle concentric with the turntable, and mechanism associated therewith for supporting a stack of records above the turntable and for releasing the records, one by one, to drop to the turntable during successive record-changing. operations.

4 Moreover, my device comprises a tone arm control mechanism for lifting the tone arm and moving it outward to inoperative position after a record has been played or when it is desired to skip or reject a record, and for moving the tone arm to initial record-playing position after the record has been deposited on the turntable; or if the last record has been played, said mechanism moves the tone arm to an inoperative position and shuts off the phonograph. In addition, my mechanism comprises motive power means for actuating the spindle mechanism as well as the tone arm control mechanism.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the recordchanging device of my invention includes a panel ill constituting the top of the framework of the phonograph; a base plate II which carries the various parts of the mechanism; a horizontal turntable 12, having a skirt i3 projecting downward into a large aperture [4 in the panel in, and mounted for rotation about a central spindle l5, projecting upward from the level of the turntable; a motor 56 (preferably an electric motor) for rotating the turntable; a tone arm ll having a pivotal mounting [B at one side of the turntable l2 permitting the opopsite end of the tone arm which carries the stylus 19 to be raised and lowered, and also to swing angularly inward from the inoperative position shown in Fig. 1 across the turntable toward the spindle ['5 for playing a record disk supported on the turntable.

The base plate H is fastened to the underside of the panel ill in spaced relation therewith by means of rubber cushioned pins 26 which prevent or deaden transmission of vibrations or shock between the mechanism carried by base plate I l and the panel or other parts of the phonograph.

The motor 56 is fastened to base plate II, for.

example, by means of the rubber cushioned bolts 21 and is adapted to rotate the turntable l2 through a friction drive comprising a pulley 16a contacting a friction wheel 22 mounted for rotation on the base plate H, and frictionally engaging the inside of the skirt E3 of the turntable 52, in the usual manner.

The tone arm mounting I8 is likewise supported on the base plate H and protrudes through an aperture 23 in panel Ii). At its base. the tone arm mounting i8 is circular, fitting into aperture 23 so that the latter is substantially closed thereby when the phonograph is assembled. At the same time, aperture 23 is advantageously made large enough to permit removal of the panel ill from the rest of the assembly by,

passing it over the tone arm, the turntable aperture it being large enough to permit removal of the panel over the spindle i5.

The turntable bearing, best shown in Fig. 13, comprises a vertical hub 24 attached to the turntable and fitting a tubular bearing 25 at the base of the spindle lb. The hub 24 rests on a thrust member, for example, the nut 25, which together with flange 2i secures the tubular bearing member 25 to the base plate ii. On its exterior the hub 2 is advantageously provided with a frictional drive surface as, for example, by knurling or longitudinally fluting the same. The turntable and its hub are preferably free to be lifted upward from the bearing to remove it from the spindle 65, e. g. after removal of a snap ring 24a.

The spindle of my record-changing device,

comprises a tubular stem extending upward from the tubular bearing member 25 to which the stem is secured, having a lower portion 28 of a diameter adapted to pass through the central aperture (if a standard record disk and anupper portion 29 of reduced diameter, extendingupward from a shoulder 30 at the top of the-lower portion 28 and terminating at an inwardly extending flange 3|. A sleeve 32, terminatingat its upper end in an inwardly extending flange 33, and having an outside diameter similar tothat of the lower stem portion 28*fits over the upper-stem portion 29 so as to move slidably-thereon. Between the lower end of the sleeve 32 and the shoulder 39 at the top of the lower-stem portion 28, a collar of rubber tubing 34 having an outer diameter similar to that of the exterior of the spindle, encircles the base of the reduced upper stem portion'29. -A cross pin 35, extending through lateral apertures-35 in the lower end of the sleeve 32 andthrough vertically elongated apertures 31 in registry withapertures-36 in the walls of the reduced stem portion 29, secures-the sleeve and stem together, with the elongated apertures permitting limited axial movement of the sleeve 32 relative to the stem portions 28 and 29, of such extent that when said sleeve is pushed downward on the spindle stem, it compresses the rubber collar 34, causing it to bulge resiliently outward in the'manner shown in Fig. 13. The sleeve 32 is urged downward on the upper stem portion 29 by means of a relatively powerful compression spring 38 seating against the flange 3| at the top of stem portion 29, and bearing on cross pin 35, thus tending to compress the rubber collar 34.- The cross-sectional proportions of the rubber collar 34 are such as to make it bulge substantially outward under such compression through the range of movement of sleeve 32 on upper stem portionl29 as limited by engagement of cross pin 35 with opposite endsof apertures 31.

In the interior of thespindle 5, means for operating record supporting. and releasing means is provided, comprising an arm carrier or operator rod 39 fitting slidably in the bore of the lower portion 28 of the spindle stem, and extending downward through the tubular. bearing member 25. The rod 39 carries a cam follower such as the roller 49 at its lower end. A plurality of record-supporting arms 4| (at least three arms), which are freely retractable by their own weight within corresponding longitudinal slots 42 in the rod 39 and slots 42a in registry therewith in the walls of the lower stem portion 28, are pivotally mounted on theupper-end of the rod'39 to swing outward and upward from their retracted position within the slots 42, to radially extending or horizontal record-supporting. position as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The pivotal mounting comprises, for example, a metal ring 43 passing through apertures 44 in the upper ends of the arms 4| and seating in an annular groove 45, in which it is held for example by means of staked portions 49 formed on the outer edge of the groove 45. I

Means for moving the arm 4| to radially extending or horizontal position comprises, for example, a pin 41'having a cam surface at its lower end adapted to slide into a central bore 49 in the upper end of rod 39, and thereby engage corresponding cam surfaces on the inner ends of arms 4| so as to move the latter to horizontally extending position and to hold them firmly therein. Upon withdrawal of the cam surface 48 of pin 41 from said bore, the arms 4| are released to permit them to fall to retracted position within the slots 42. I 9

The pin 41 extends slidably upward through a central aperture in the cross pin 35, and

thence throu h the center of the spring 38. At its upper end the pin 41 carries a knob orcap 50, secured to the pin, which normally protrudes through the aperture at the top of the sleeve 32. In the construction illustrated, the pin 41 is secured to the cap 50 by force fit frictional engagement at the knurled portion 5| adjacent the base of the cap. An outwardly extending flange 52 at the base of the cap 50 limits upward movement of the cap and rod 41 in the sleeve 32, while engagement of the same flange with the top of the reduced stem portion 29 limits downward movement thereof.

A collar 53 having an outside diameter permitting it to slide into the interior of the reduced stem portion 29 encircles the pin 41 adjacent its lower end and grips the same so as to permit sliding movement of the pin 41 relative to the collar, such movement being opposed, however by relatively high frictional force. The collar 53 is of such length that when the rod 39 approaches the upper limit of its movement in the lower stem portion 28 (in which its upper end is adjacent shoulder 30), the collar 53 is forced upward by rod 39 against cross pin 35, compressing'the spring 38 and thus releasing the pressure on the rubber collar 34, whereupon the latter contracts to its normal diameter. At the same time, pin 41 is frictionally held by collar 53 in such position that cam surface 48 on the end of the pin enters the bore 49 in the end of the rod 39, and thus moves the arms 4| to the radially extended horizontal position shown in Figs. 5 and 6. When the rod 39 reaches the upper limit of its travel in the lower stem portion 28, and arms 4| are extended by engagement with pin 41, the flange 52 at the base of the cap 59 is below the upper limit of its movement in sleeve 32 and arms 4| can be released by manually pulling the cap 59 upward, causing the pin 41 to slide upward through collar 53 against the opposing frictional force, to remove the cam surface 48 from the bore 49. This releases arms 4| allowing them to fall into retracted position within slots 42. After such manipulation the arms 4| can be moved again to horizontal recordsupporting position by applying downward pressure to the cap 50, thereby returning the cam surface 48 into bore 49 to raise the arms 4|.

When the arms 4| are held in radially extended position as shown in Fig. 5, a stack of records can be placed on the spindle I5 and is stably supported by said arms in horizontal position, particularly by reason of the fact that the arms extend outward to engage the records at points relatively widely spaced from the center of the records. Records supported on the turntable l2 and trapped below the extended arms 4| can be removed from the spindle |5 after manually pulling the cap 55 upward, releasing arms 4| to fall to retracted position, and lifting the records oif the spindle. The ends of the arms 4| are cut diagonally as shown at Ma, so that the records will cam any arm which isnot fully retracted intoits slot 42. To reset the arms 4| to recordsupporting position, the cap 59 is pushed downward, advantageously by merely resting a stack arrears provided: with an eccentric adjustment. 51- to facilitate-positioning;of the; cam 54 over: a. small? vertical and horizontalv range of adjustment; The'upp eror initial dwell portion-54a= whichis. arcuate with respect to pivot 55) of the. camsurfaceof (23.11154 engages the cam follower 40; holding the operating rod. 39. at. the upper. limit. of its stroke;,in. which. it compresses spring; 38 to. maintain the rubber. collar 34 iniits; normal con tracteciv condition. As the. cam 54.- rotates: counterclockwise in Fig. 5;,the adjacent camsurface.54b which inclines. gradually inwardtowardipivot 55, allows the rod 39 to descend.suffieient1y= to permitcross pin. 35 to move.- downward-under thecompression of spring-38; compressingrubber. collar 34 in the-manner best. shown. in Fig. 13.. When the nextadjacent cam surface 54c rides: under-the cam follower. as rotation of cam 54- continues to besubstantially; arcuate about the;

pivot.55,,or continues to incline graduallyinward: b

spindle l5 carries with it the arms-which; are? 7 held in extended position'by; pin 41 together'withpin 47 and cap 50 as shown in Fig. 6. However, as the cam follower 40 approaches the-Mend ofjitsz downward travel (i. e. whilein contact with cam. surface: 54d), further. downward movement of. pin 47 and cap 5ilwith rod 39is arrested by engagement of flange 52- on said cap with the. flange 3| on the 'upperend of the upper stem p ortion 29- of the spindle, and further downward. movement of'rod 39'withdraws cam surface 48 on the end of pin from thebore 49 in.-the endl'of' rod 39,,releasing arms 4'! for retraction within theslots 42, asindicated.inidottedlines-v in Fig; 6. Reverse movement of the cam'ii imoves the rod 39 upwardinto engagement with theend of pin 41, thus returning the arms li to extended position; and finally upon movementof 'cam;sur.-- faces 58b and 5411 under the. cam follower 40-, the. spring 38 is compressed to permit relaxation of the rubber collar 34.-

Rod39 is yieldably urged toward-.the upper. limit of its stroke. by means comprising, for-example, a lever 59; advantageously. madeofimetal. wire or rod, havingone end-connectedto the cam follower 40 and its opposite end-til -connected by a.. tension spring iii to an eye: 52 adjacentithe; lower end of the bracket 56; The leverrEd is; suspended at: a. fulcrum 63' formed by a loop; 64. in the end of. a connecting rod-.65 (the purpose. and function ofwhich' will be later described), the fulcrumand connecting rod being slidable. toward.v and away from the spindle it: in aslot' 66in the base plate. H. Theforce appliedto the. lever 59 by tension-spring 8| is sufficienttoraisg: the rod 39 and its associated mechanism toward: the upper limit of its movement. within: the spindle I5, out is; insufficient to overcome thez force of thespring38 in thetupper portionxof the: spindle; Thus, without. additional force? being; applied',.the rod 39 would; maintaimcontactrofa Reverse clockwise 8': its; cam iollowen 0v witln cam 54 solely during; thermovement of eam surfaceszila and 54brunder the: cam: follower: and; would; remain stationary while cam154 rotates; further; in counterclockwise. direction finally riding-over. the endoffinger 58'. Howevemmnder the-added weightxofia: record .disk supportedon the.- arms: 4|, spring. 6| yields: to. permitthe. roddiS: I and; its. associated mechanism together: with theerecordrsupported orrthe arms 4 l! to: deseendas-c'am; 5k-rotates counterclockwise in suclra mannerrtha-teamdollower. 40 maintains contact; withathe: surfaces; of. cam 54- untiL itdescendsto; the; lower. limiter); its stroke: When" this. occurs;,, as-.indicated-.- above; arms 4| are: released for retractiomwithin the slots 42, and ,the.

record supported-thereby. is released. to fall fiat.

upon." the: turntable-at the base of: the: spindle; Moreover; downward movement of: cam follower: 40inicontactwithithezcam surface 54d; .which is insured:.by finger 58--ridingover: the cam:v follower:

40, .movesath'e lever. 59.-in.the:manner shown: in

. so that it" drops upon the-- turntable.

dotted lines in. 6 forcing the fulcrum B3-and hence wire rod.- 65 to the.- right. in the: slot 66;

In. Me normal condition,. the spindle i5 is adapted; as'shown-in'fig; 5,, to receive. a stack: ofrecords; which are supported ontheextended: arms-4rlt When astaclnof recordsare thus-sup ported,-.,the. record.61 .whichz isanext to. thelower-- most-record 58 supportedzon arms. 4!, is; aligned with; the rubber; collar 34. Record-releasing; operationaofvtheimechanism is accomplished lay- QQWIIWBLEdE- movement. of 'rod: 39.. in the spindle.- Initial. movementof the :rod. releases the; spring; 38"; torcompressr. rubber: collar '34, forcing: it outwardiagainst the.-perip heral edgezsurface oi. thecentral: apertureroi'irecord 61 and'thuszgripping; this: record? 61- to?- prevent; its movement on the spindle; .so; that itisupportsr the overlying. records inithe stack; Thetz'grippinggactiorr'of the-collar. 34 1s. applied: in. as resilient: manner. over. a-r sub:- stantial. edgessurface of :thesrecordf 6:1 and thus avoids". all. danger: of: chipping or: damage to; the recordithus'grippedi'.

As rod 39; together with: pin 41,. cap? 50? and arms: 4"! carrying records 68, continue: their! downward movement. during 1 further rotationv of. cam 54; -movemen-tof pin 41 is arrested and the arms 4 1 are released for retraction" in the manner herei-nb'eforedescribed; th'us releasing record 58 As shown in'Fig, 16", the*pin 4-! has completed its' down-- ward" movement. Operator rod39', however; continues'its' downward movement to permit the arms" 4 l" to "collapse.inwardlyjand to release the record supported thereon tofall'to'the turntable. Reverse movementof cam 54 clockwisediree-= tion shown in Fig. 5,. returns? the arms 4'! to record-supporting position through. reengagement.lof"rod.'3'9'with pi'n 4T. Whenthe collar 53' contacts the cross pin 35 andpushes it..upward' to .release rubberv collar 34-from the pressureof springBBLflrecordi fiTanditheoverlying records in the stack. drop. upon the extended arms. 4|; Bepetitionoii the operation will similarly, release record-r6]. to fall upon the. turntable wl'iilerthe. remaining... recorder in the stack are. gripped. by. rubber. collar. 34.-. Since .thearmsAl .are :uniform- 1y; released,v they: produce no. tendency. for the. records. to. tip as they -fa1l.to..-the.-turntable; thus, any danger of. injury, to. the records during, the releasing; operation :isavoided;

It will be noted that minor. adjustments of the. position-of the. cam: surfaces0f.-1cam=.54to adjust the positiomof: the. cam follower 40' -and rod= 39' 69 pivotally attached to the cam at and adapt- -edto be moved back and forth by a motive power mechanism, hereinafter described.

- Mlhe'ton arm mounting comprises a vertical bearing sleeve 1 [secured to the base plate I l and carrying an interior sleevev 12 rotatable therein. The lattercarries a'bracket 13 to which a pair of pivot arms 14 are attached, and on which the tone arm I1 is mounted for pivotal raising and lowering about pivots 14a. The arms 14 are preferably resilient-so that the pivots Mu. can be snappedinto engagement or disengaged to attach or remove the tonearm from its mounting. Sleeve 12 is held against axial displacement in sleeve H by brackets 13 at its upper end and a fastenersuch asretaining ring 1211 at its lower end. Rotation of the sleeve 12, carrying bracket 13, in the bearing sleeve ll permits swinging movement of the tone arm across the turntable. A conductor wire 15 connected to the pick-up device associated with the stylus IQ of the tone arm, passes downward through inner sleeve 12 to connect with the sound amplifying equipment of the phonograph.

.An outer sleeve 15 fitting the outer surface of bearing sleeve H and rotatable thereon, carries an index and cam plate 11 on its lower end, located above the base plate H. Moreover, the outer sleeve 16 carries a body member 18 constituting the exterior portion of the tone arm mounting, the body member being secured to the sleeve 18 for rotary movement therewith. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the body member 113 is secured to the sleeve 18 for rotation therewith, e. g. by means of a pin 85 projecting downward through plate 11. The body member 13 comprises a skirt 80 at its base preferably of circular shape to fit into the aperture 23 in the top panel is of the phonograph.

Sleeve 15 together with cam plate 11 and body member 18 are adapted to rotate about the bearing sleeve 11 and also to slide up and down thereon. At one side of the body member 18, a push rod 8!, clamped in the body member by clamp screw 19, projects upward through a radial slot, preferably open at its outer end, in arm 82 on bracket 13 to contact a boss 8-3 on the underside of tone arm ii. The push rod is adapted to raise the tone arm from record-playing position to inoperative position aboutpivots lea when the sleeve 15 and cam plate 11 are raised to slide upward on bearing sleeve 1!. Similarly, rotation of the body member 18 with sleeve 16 causes the tone arm to swing about the bearing formed by sleeves 1| and 12, by reason of the engagement of push rod 8! with the bracket arm 82.

Means can be advantageously and conveniently provided for making minor adjustments of the limiting positions of the tone arm in its angular as well as its vertical movement, by including in the push rod 8! an eccentric portion of reduced diameter 84, said portion engaging the aperture in bracket arm 82. By rotating the push rod 8| in its mounting on the body member 18, for example, after loosening the clamp screw it, the position of the tone arm can be adjusted angularly over a small range, and the push rod 86 held in adjusted position by again tightening the clamp screw 19. Moreover, vertical adjustment of push rod 8! on body member 18 adjusts the vertical position of the tone arm.

10 Horizontal angular movement of the tone arm, together with those portions of the tone arm mounting associated therewith, is limited by a pin 85 extending downward from the underside of the skirt through an arcuate slot 86 in the base plate II. The slot limits the angular movement of the pin and hence of the tone arm between its outermost position beyond the edge of the turntable, and its innermost position adjacent the spindle l5.

Means for raising and lowering the tone arm comprises a conical cam 81 movable in the track 88, and held therein, e. g. by means of a flange 89, insertable in the track through the widened portion 88a thereof at an end thereof. Cam 81 is movable in said track by a connecting-rod 98. The track 88 is formed by a slot in the base plate H and comprises an outer portion 91 extending radially outward from the axis of the tone arm mounting, beyond the periphery of theicam plate 11; and a communicating inner arcuate portion 82 extending around the axis of the tone arm mounting, so as to subtend an angle somewhat greater than the maximum angular movement of'the tone arm as determined by pin and slot 85. Preferably, the extent of the arcuate portion 92 of the track 88 islimited, e. g. to anangle not substantially greater than degrees, so that force applied substantially along the line connecting the opposite ends of track 88, can readily move the cam 81 along the full length of the track in either direction.

When cam 81 is moved inward along the radial portion 9! of the track 88 its inclined conical surface engages some point alongthe arcuate edge 93 of the cam'plate 11 so as to raise the plate upward, lifting the tone arm I! so that its stylus I9 is above the upper level of the topmost'record of astack carried on the turntable. The apex of the cam 81 then slides under the plate 11, and as the cam continues to move around the arcuate portion 92 of the'track it rotates the plate 11 by reason of its frictional enga ement therewith to move the tone arm to the limit of its outward angular movement. In order t rovide a more ositive en agement between the cam 81 and the plate 11, a small indentation or aperture 94 can be formed in the plate in the path of the cam. so as to form with the apex of'the cam an impositive detent which carries the plate 11 along with the cam 81 until the plate reaches the limit of its movement. The cam 81 then continuesits travel to the end ofits arcuate path while'plate 11 remains stationary. Th 'arcuate travel of cam 81 is much greater than the angular movement of the plate 11, so that the tone arm is rapidly swung outward to the limit of-its'movement during the initial movement of the cam in the arcuate track. Return movement of the cam 81 in the track 88 moves the plate 11 frictionally in the opposite direction, and thus moves the tone arm angularly inward toward the spindle until its progress is arrested by index meanshereinafter described. -The cam 81 finally slips out from under the plate 11 when it reaches the radial portion ill of its track, and thereby allows theplate 11 and body member 18 to move downward until the sleeve 16 abuts the base plate II. This lowers pushrod 8|, thus loweringthe tone arm IT in the indexed position in which it was arrested.

Index means for determining the position to which the tone arm is moved upon the return stroke of-cam 81 comprises an L-shaped lever -base plate I I, :and adjacent the inner end of .-thearcuate-portion-of track-88. I -he L-shaped ilever' has an'arm ill-extending radial1y-from its pivot toward the outer or radial portion of track -8.8,.:and an :arm 98 extending roughly arcuately about pivot 96 -from the end of arm 91 toward r-the'tone arm mounting I8. The-end'of-arcuate arm-98 has a diagonal-cam surface 98a adapted to contact the conical cam 81 when the --cam moves to the :outer limit of the radial portion *9I of-its track 08, -so-that the-cam can move the L-shaped'lever95 outward from the tone :arm mounting-about pivot 96 to an-i-noperative position. Adiacent the pivot :95 the L-shaned .lever, or index lever 95, :carries a-resilien-t finger :99-adaptedto contact the conicalcam 81 when -;the latter reachesthe inner end of--arcuate portion 92 of track 88. Whenthe camreachesthis position, it moves the fin er 99 -to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 12 thereby-causing the index lever 95 to swing inward toward the .tonearm mounting to an indexing position-about its pivot 96.

The index lever 95 has an upwardly-projecting tab I extending into the ath of a shoulder I0l on the edge of plate I! (as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. '12), for arresting inward rotary movement of the-plate and tone arm at a-shut-ofi or inoperative position in which the stylus I9 is beyond the periphery of a standard lar e-size record carried on the spindle or turntable. "This position lot-the tone arm is re- ;ferred to herein as its shut-off position.

In order to provide'for automatic control of the phono raph motor,-mv device includes means for shutting ofi the motor I6 when-the tone arm is lowered in-shut-off position. "Thus-when the tone arm is lowered in this position, the pin :85 engages a contact member I03a, normally ur ed to circuit-closing position, in a switch I03 included in the ener izing circuit for the phono ra h motor I6. 'Upon'lowering the tone arm in its shut-off position -'(e. g. asa result of cam .81 moving outward in the radial portion 9| of its track from below p te 11) the pin .85 depresses-contact member I03a -to open the energizing circuit-of thephono ranh. However, when-the-tone :arm ':has moved inward from said shut-oif position, oris raised. "pin 8'5 is moved away from "the eontact member I 03a, allowing the latter to reclose the -motor circuit.

When the inward movement ofindex lever 95 is arrested in a pos tion in which t e tab 100 will clear shoulder -I 0|. but in'which-it is a apted to enga e a second shoulder -I 02 on plate 11. the tone arm is moved inward during retro rade movement of cam 81in the arcuate portion 92 of its track, until shoulder I02 en ages -;tab I00, whereby the tone arm is-swunginward-to aposition above the initial --pl-aying groove or adiacent margin of a small standard size record, (for example, a -inch record), carried by the turntable, and as the cam ,81 moves out ard from beneath plate 11, the tone arm ;is lowered to bring the stylus upon'the record-in positionto begin playing it.

It should be noted that the tone arm is so proportioned with respect to the relative location of its mounting and spindle that a straight line connecting the stylus I9 with the axis of the tone arm mounting will form an acute angle with a radius of any standard-size f passing through the outermost point at which the stylus I9 initially contacts the record.

By virtue of :this arrangement, .thexirictionel force applied tether-tone arm. by.:.rotation-:oi the record, has a 'rcomponent tending to -swing Jthe .tone :arm -,inwarditowar,d the.;spindle I5. .,Accordingly; when the tone :arm ;is lowered, after movement :to an ;-mdexed;record-p1aying :position, so that its-stylus engages the smooth:margm of a record :rotated ;by the turntable, the

component of frictional ;,force acting :on the stylus I9 moves ,the latter, inward to rengagexthe initial playing grooves of :therreoord.

Auxiliary indexing ;-means :for arresting the tone arm in position to 1 play ;a 12-inch, record comprises-a bifurcated tab or ,slidezmember I04, having paral1e1; a1:ms IMa whichslidabh .1 en a e an annularer ove liliinrtheouter surface ofthe sleeve 15, just;-abov.e-plate I'I,:and;having;-a1fia preferably resilient-arm 'Iildb extending across the -,surf.ace of plate '11 and -termina.ting inJ-a downwardly bent .tip I06, :adapted when "the member I04 is :slid outward :across the .plate TI. to'hookover the edge of said plate, intermediate shoulders IOI and I02. ,Thememberlil l is urged to retracted position soas'to holdthe hooked tip I30 against the edge of the plate TI .by a loop I01 of resilient'Wire-having one end attached to the body I8 of the tone arm mounting, and its other end to an eye I08 in one of the bifurcated arms IMaof the auxiliary index-member I04. The loop I0'I has a'feeler portion I09 extending inwardtowardthe spindle I5so as tobe deflected by the outer edge of a large-sizestandard record, (for example, a 12-inch record), when it drops from its supported .position on arms 4| to the turntable I2. When the tone arm is positioned at the outer limit of its angular movement, deflection of the feeler portion I09 of loop I0! by a 12-inch record as it falls to the turntable flexes theloop I01 so as-to push the auxiliary index member I04 outward as indicated in dotted lines in 'Fig, 10, and a tang II"0 adjacent the end of the arm I042) hooks overthe edge of plate TI and latches the index member I04 in its projected position. In this position, the projected end of arm I04?) of the auxiliary index member I04 projects outward so as to mask shoulder I02 and engage tab I00, thus arresting inward angular movement of the tone arm (as the cam 81 moves backward along arcuate portion 92 of its track 08) in position to be lowered in the initial recordplaying groove of the 12-inch record just doposited on the turntable. As the cam 81 moves out from'below plate 11 the latter lowers the tone arm on to the record, and at the same time the tip I06 of the'auxiliary indexing member I04 is flexed upward by contact with base plate II (or with the surface of indexing lever 95), unlatching tang IIO from the edge of plate H, whereupon theresilient'loop I01 pulls back the auxiliary indexing member I04 to its initial inoperative position with hooked tip I06 retracted against the ed e of plate TI.

The feeler portion I 09 of loop I0! is preferably arranged to move beyond record-engaging position when the tone arm is moved inward to shutoff position (i. e.-when shoulder IOI on late 11 engages tab I00) so that 12-inch records lying on the turntable I2 can be removed from the spindle I5 after the records have been played without deflecting the feeler I09.

In order to arrest inward movement of the index lever 95 so as to avoid engagement of tab I00 with shoulder IOI (which would arrest the inarm 98 of the index member, and slidable in a slot I I! in the base plate I I, said loop being normally positioned to permit index lever 95 to move tab I90 inward into the path of shoulder l! for arresting the tone arm in shut-off position. When the loop III is retracted in slot H2 away from pivot 96, it is adapted to engage a shoulder H3 on arcuate arm 99 of the index lever 50 as to arrest inward movement of the latter and position tab I96 in the path of shoulder N12 (or of auxiliary index member I94, if the latter has been latched in operative position). The loop HI is formed in the connecting rod 65 of which loop 64 at the opposite end forms the fulcrum 63 for lever 59.- When the fulcrum 63 remains in its normal position shown in Fig. 5 i. e. during an operation in which the operator rod 39 of the spindle fails to descend all the way by reason of the absence of a record on arms 4|, during an":

operation'of cam 54, loop III remains in its nor mal position, allowing index member 95 to move inward so as to bring tab I00 in the path of The tone arm is thereby arrested shoulder IOI. in shut-off position and when cam 81 moves outward from beneath the plate and the tone arm is lowered, pin 85 opens switch I03 and deenergizes the phonograph to complete a shut-off operation.

However, when a record is supported on arms 4| and operating rod 39 moves downward along the cam surface of cam 54 to release the record to the turntable, lever 59 pulls the fulcrum 63 to the right (as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6), thereby pulling the loop H l into the path of shoulder H 3 and arresting the index lever 95 in position to bring tab I00 into the path of shoulder N32 or auxiliary index member I04. Accordingly, as cam 81 moves back along its track the tone arm is arrested in position to descend to initial record-playing position for the record just released, and release of cam plate 11 by cam 87 lowers the tone arm in this position. When the cam 8'! moves outward from beneaththe plate IT as hereinbefore stated, such movement of the tone arm brings pin 95 out of range for engaging switch operator Hl3a and thereby maintains the motor circuit for operation of the phonograph, after the tone arm is lowered.

Coordinated operation of cam 54 and cam 81 is obtained by the connecting rod 69 secured to the base of cam 8! at a lost-motion connection formedfor example by an elongated loop 69:; engaging a projection'B'ia on the cam, the connecting rod 59 being movable with cam 8'! along its track 88,. The opposite end of the connecting rod is attached as hereinbefore stated to an eye 70 in cam 54. The initial position of cam Bl shown in Fig. [2 corresponds to the initial position of cam 54 shown in Fig. 5, in which the spindle operating rod 39 is held in uppermost record-supporting position. Inward movement of cam 81' along its track so as to raise the tone arm above record-playing position and swing it outward to the end of its angular rangecorresponds to rotation of cam 54 in counterclockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 5, whereby, if a record is positioned on the arms 4!, fulcrum 63 moves to'the right (as shown in Fig. 6) and pulls the loop III to arrest th index member 95 in position to engage shoulder I 02 (or auxiliary index member I04), 50 that upon retrograde movement of the cam 81, the tone arm will be arrested during inward movement inposition to be lowered on the edge of the released record. v

thereon, such movement of cam 54 occurs with' out lowering of the operator 39 in the spindle [5,

--,so that the fulcrum 63 remains in its normal position allowing index lever to move to shut-' ofi position.

Movement of indexlever 95 to indexing position takes place at the end of the inward movement of cam 81 in its track 88, i. e. when it engages resilient finger 99. Such movement takes place approximately at the same time as there-- lease of the record supported by arms 4!, i. e.- as cam follower 40 reaches the end of its down- .ward movement on cam surface 54d. Should alarge-size record be released, it engages feeler I09 so as to move auxiliary indexing member 194 to operative position. Return movement of earns 54 and 81 takes place simultaneously, cam 54 thereby resetting the spindle with arms 4| in extended position to receive the next record in the stack, while cam 81 moves the tone arm to the position determined by index member 95 and at the end of the return stroke releases the plate 11 so as to lower the tone arm in the indexed position. Finally, at the end of the return stroke of cams 54 and 81, the cam 54 raises rod 39 to release the compression exerted by spring 38 on rubber collar 34, while cam 81 moves outward in the radial portion 9| of its track, engaging the diagonal cam surface 99 of the index member 95, and moves the latter rearwardly to inoperative position. At the same time, the finger 99 I swings inward across the end of track 88 for engagement with cam 8'! the next time it moves inward along the track.

It will be noted that operation of the tone arm and its control mechanism is efiected by a friction drive between cam 81 and plate 17, and that independent movement of the tone arm to any position thereof can be manually effected without injury of any part of the device. Moreover, the control mechanism remains in a condition to pick up the tone arm again and carry out an automatic positioning thereof during any succeeding change cycle. Regardless of the position of the tone arm, the cam 81 first moves it outward beyond the edges of any records on the spindle or turntable and before any record releasing operation oc'curs, so that no damage to the released record can take place.

Operation of the spindle mechanism for releasing the records one by one, and coordinating operation of the tone arm control mechanism, as hereinbefore described, is effected by a common motive power device, preferably deriving its power from the same source as the turntable. As illustrated in the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the motive power device comprises a disk I I4 rotatably mounted on the top of the base plate II at a bearing H5, having a hub I I6 carrying a crank I I1 projecting through the bearing to the lower side of the turntable I l. connecting rod 99, hereinbefore mentioned, to the base'of cam 81, which in turn is connected to cam 54 by the connecting rod 69. When crank II! has moved a short distance beyond its dead center position in which it is doubled upon the connecting rod 90, as shown in Fig. 4, and cam 81 has moved inward a short distance from the outer limit of its travel to its initial position adjacent the outer end of the radial portion 9| of its track 88, cam 54 which controls the spindle .mechanism remains in its. final or initial record- The crank H1 is attached by the supporting position, effectively decoupled from disk H4 by reason of the lost motion connection 69a of connecting rod 69 to cam 81. When the crank I I! has moved to said position beyond dead center, disk H4 is relieved of any working load tending to retard its further rotation. Rotation of disk I I4 through a half revolution from this starting position moves the crank toward its opposite dead center position to cause cam 81 to move inward to the inner end of arcuate portion 92 of its track 88, and simultaneously moves cam 54 to the limit of its counterclockwise rotation from the position shown in Fig. 5. Completion of the revolution of the disk H4 .returns crank I ITI to its original position somewhat beyond dead center shown in Fig. 4, returning cams ,54 and 81 to their initial positions, shown in Figs. 5 and 12. Thus, each rotation of the disk H4 is adapted to effect a complete change cycle (i. e. a record-releasing operation if a record is supported on the spindle, or if no record is supported on the arms 41 of the spindle I5, a shutoff operation).

Means for rotating the disk I I4 preferably comprises a frictional coupling between the disk and a movable portion of the turntable-rotating mechanism; and for the purpose of causing the disk H4 to stop after each revolution, a driven friction coupling surface is interrupted, so that when the interrupted portion reaches the driving surface, no further torque is applied to the disk. Thus, in the construction shown in the drawings, particularly Figs. 13 and 14, the disk I I4 has a peripheral skirt I I8 carrying a band I I9 of friction material such as rubber. The disk I I4 is mounted so as to bring the band I I9 into contact with the friction surface of the bearing hub 24 of turntable I2, so that rotation of the latter can cause the disk H4 to rotate by frictional engagement with the band H9. In order to provide for minor adjustment of the position of disk I I4 relative to the hub 24, the bearing I I5 is advantageously made eccentric relative to its mounting on base plate II, so that on rotating the bearing H5, the disk H4 can be moved a slight distance inward or outward from hub 24, the bearing H5 being secured in the adjusted position.

In order to provide for interrupted rotation of the disk I I4 after each revolution thereof, namely, at the end of each record-changing operation, the peripheral surface of the band H9 is interrupted for a short interval, for example, by drawing the band H9 inward through an opening I23 in the skirt H8 and threading it around a projection I 2i spaced inward from the periphery of the disk H4. This forms an interruption or interval I22 in the surface of the band H9, so that when the interval reaches the friction surface of the hub 24 of the turntable, frictional coupling of the latter with the disk H4 :is interrupted, and rotation of the disk stops. The stopping position of the disk H4 corresponds to positioning of the crank I I! adjacent and beyond its dead center, shown in Fig. 4, at which time cams 54 and 8'! are in their initial positions indicated in Figs. 5 and 12.

Means for initiating rotation of the disk H4 after it has reached its uncoupled position comprises a tripping mechanism, including an arm I23 overlying a disk H4 and mounted for rotary movement about :a pivot I24 concentric with the bearing of disk H4. At the outer end of arm I 23 means is provided for frictionally engaging the :disk H4 so that slight rotary movement of the arm about its pivot in counterclockwise direction in Fig. 3, moves disk H4 to bring the interval I22 in its peripheral band H9 beyond the turntable hub surface 24. Band I I9 thus engages hub 24 and a revolution of the disk is initiated. Should the arm I23 move in the opposite direction and tend to carry disk H4 with it, rotation of the disk will not be initiated since clockwise rotation of the disk brings band I I9 on the other side of interval I22 into contact with the surface of hub 24, so that rotation of the latter merely returns the disk to its stopping position.

Means for frictional engagement between arm I23 and disk H4 comprises for example, a metal ball I25 carried in pocket I25 formed by a lancedout portion of the metal adjacent the end of arm I23, having a wedge surface I26a which tends to wedge the ball against the marginal face of disk H4, e. g. beyond the outer rim of an annular channel I21 in the upper surface of the disk H4, when arm I23 moves in counterclockwise direction (in Fig. ,3). Clamping of the ball I25 between said marginal portion of disk H4 and surface I26a provides frictional engagement 0 so that rotary movement of the arm I23 in said direction about its pivot tends to rotate disk H4 in the same direction. By virtue of the wedge action of surface I2Ba, movement of the arm I23 in the opposite direction releases the ball so that the arm is freely movable without frictional engagement with disk I I4.

Mechanism for moving the arm in counterclockwise direction (referring to Fig. 3) comprises a trip lever 528, best shown in Figs. 3 and 14, attached to the arm I23 at an eye I29 adjacent one end, and spaced from the pivotal mounting I24 of the arm I23; and a tension spring I30 having one end connected to a point ISI on the lever I28 and its other and connected to an eye IZSa on arm I 23, radially spaced from the eye I29. The lever I28 projects beyond eye I29 and terminates in a hook I32 extending downward into the annular channel I21 on the disk I I4. The opposite end of lever I28 extends through a guide I33 carried on the top surface of the base plate I I, and includes .a portion extending beyond the guide and terminating in a dependent hook I34 which extends downward through a slot I35 in the base plate II. The tension of the spring I30 tends to move arm I23 in counterclockwise direction in Fig. 3, causing corresponding counterclockwise rotation of the disk I I4 so as to initiate a revolution thereof by engaging band H9 with the surface of turntable hub 24. Such movement of the lever I28 is prevented however by engagement of hook I32 with the inner rim of channel I21. Moreover, a notch I36 is advantageously provided on the inner rim of said channel so that hook I32 enters the notch when the disk H4 is positioned with the interrupted interval I22 in band I I9 adjacent turntable hub 24, so that when the disk I I4 completes each revolution, entry of hook I32 into notch I33 prevents such overtravel of the disk as would reengage band H9 with the rotating hub 24, and effect a second revolution of the disk I I4.

When the end of lever I28 extending through guide I33-is pushed toward disk I I4, the hook I32 is dislodged from the notch I35 and rides outward across the lower surface of the annular channel I21, moving arm I23 in clockwise direction and slightly stretching spring I30. As explained above, clockwise movement of the arm I23 is ineffective to cause rotation of disk II..4.

However, when the pressure on the end of lever 17' I28 is released, spring I30 pulls the lever to the right in Fig. 3, and at the same time rotates arm I23 a short distance in counterclockwise direction, causing corresponding rotation of the disk II4 by reason of its frictional engagement with arm I23 through the ball I25. The resulting engagement of band I I9 with the surface of turntable hub 24 continues rotation of the disk II 4 through one revolution, arm I23 moving sufliciently therewith to bring hook I32 against the inner rim of channel I27, and interval I22 in the band I I9 again interrupting the rotation when it reaches the bearing hub 24, whereupon hook I32 again enters the notch I36 on the inner rim of the channel I21. The resulting rotation of the disk II4 effects a change cycle, i. e. a record-changing or shut-off cycle, involving operation of the spindle record-releasing mechanism and coordinated operation of the tone arm.

My record-changing device is also provided with manual as well as automatic means for initiating the rotation of the disk II4 to start a change cycle. Automatic means for initiating such rotation comprises a nose I3I on plate 11-, which, as hereinbefore indicated, rotates through the same angle as the tone arm I1. The hook I34 on the end of trip lever I28 extends into the path of the nose I31, so that when the stylus I 9 of the tone arm reaches the final playing grooves and lead-in spiral of a record, its inward movement toward the spindle causes the nose I31 to engage the hook I34 and push the lever I28 to the left (in Fig. 3), against the tension of spring I 30.,

As the stylus I9 continues to move inward along? the lead-in spiral of the record grooves, it finally reaches the eccentric groove which causes the tone arm H to oscillate inward and outward with respect to the spindle. Upon the first retrograde movement of the tone arm away from the spindle, nose I31 releases the end of lever I28 and permits spring I30 to draw lever I28 to the right, with corresponding counterclockwise rotation of arm I23, thus initiating a counterclockwise revolution of' the disk II4. In the course of the resulting change cycle the tone arm is first raised, then moved outward, returning the nose I 31 to a position out of range for engaging the hook I34 on the guided end of lever I28, and allowing the hook I32 at the opposite endof the lever I28 to return to the inner rim of the channel I 21 and finally to reengage notch I36 Whenone revolution of the disk I I4 is complete.

Manual means for initiating. rotation of the disk II4 while motor I6 and turn-table I2 are rotating comprises a bar I38 extending across the lower surface of the guide plate I l, carried in a guide slot I39 formed in the edge of the base.

plate II and likewise carried in a guide slot I40 adjacent the motor switch I03. The bar I38 includes a cam surface I4I adapted to engage hook I34 on the guided end of trip lever I28 and push it to the left in Fig. 3, when the bar I38 is manually pushed inward toward the switch I03 by means of a knob I42 projecting upward from one end of the bar I38 through a slot in the top panel III of the phonograph. The knob I42 is removable to permit removal of the mechanism from panel II). The bar I38 is normally urged to retracted position by means of tension sprin I43. When the knob I42 is pushed inward, the cam surface I4I engages the hook I34 on the guided end of lever I28, pushing the latter so as to move arm I23 in clockwise direction. Upon releasing the knob I 42,

the bar I33 springs back. under the influenceoi. spring I43, while the lever I28 is pulled back by 18 spring I30, moving arm I23 in counterclockwise direction, and initiating a revolution of the disk II4. Such manipulation of the knob thus initiates a change cycle in the same manner as automatic operation of lever I28 by the nose I31 on plate 11.

If a record is supported on the arms 4| of the spindle at the beginning of the change cycle, it is deposited upon the turntable, and the tone arm is moved to record-playing position. If no record is supported on the arms M, the rotation of the disk I I4 in response to manipulation of knob I42 effects a shut-off operation as hereinbefore described. Thus, Whenever it is desired to reject or interrupt the playing of a record whichhas been deposited on the turntable, and to release the next record supported onthe arms 4|, or to shut-oi? the phonograph if the record being played is the last one in the stack, such operation is initiated merely by pushing knob I42 inward and releasing it.

Moreover, means is provided for starting the phonograph at any time, e. g. when a new stack of records is placed on the supporting arms 4| of the spindle I5, if tone arm I I is in a shut-off position. This means comprises a cam I44 on a second contact member I45 of switch I03, which is engaged by the inner end of bar I38. When the latter is pushed inward by manipulation of knob I42, engagement of the end of rod I38 with the cam I44 depresses contact member I45 so as to close the circuit of motor I6 through switch I03 and start rotation of the turntable I2. Temporary closure of the switch I03 by means of the contactor I45 occurs regardless of the fact that the other contactor I 03a is depressed to open circuit position by the pin 85, resulting from the positioning of the tone arm in shut-off position. Release of the knob I 42 effects engagement of the frictional drive surface of disk II4 with the hub 24 of the turntable so that the latter which is rotated by the motor I6 rotates the disk I I 4 suinciently to move the tone arm [1 upward, thus causing pin to release contactor I03a, which continues to maintain the circuit to the motor I6 after the knob I42 is released. Thus, manipulation of the knob I42 not only starts rotation of the motor I6 and turntable I2, but at the same time initiates a change cycle involving recordreleasing operation of the spindle I5 and a positioning operation of the tone arm control mechanism, whereby the tone arm is placed on the released record in record-playing position.

If a record remains on the turntable when the phonograph is shut-off, and it is desired to play this record, it is merely necessary to lift the tone arm by hand and place it in record-playing position, thereby causing pin 85 to release switch member I03a, thus starting the turntable motor I6. No operation of the disk H4 in the associated record-changing mechanism occurs until the record has been played and a change cycle initiated by the tone arm, or until the knob I42 is manipulated to reject the record.

On the other hand, if it is desired to stop the phonograph at any time, the tone arm is merely lifted by hand from the record and moved to shutoff position in which pin 85 opens the motor circuit by engaging switch member I03a.

A cup I46 may be advantageously provided, removably mounted in an aperture in the panel I0, into which the stylus I9 extends when the tone arm I! is moved to shut-off position. This cup holds the tone arm against wide swinging when the phonograph is moved or carried. The cup is 19 best made of cushioning material such as, rubber to prevent damage to the stylus, and can be made with a deep well to receive used needles to be discarded.

Fig. 15 is a chart in which time is plotted along horizontal coordinates, and simultaneous positions or velocities of the various parts of the mechanism are plotted on vertical coordinates in a succession of graphs.

Opposite the first legend: Records, in the chart, positions of three records, on the supporting arms 4! of the spindle l5 and on the turntable I2, are shown from the time they are placed upon the spindle to the time they are removed from the turntable, through a succession of four change cycles and three intermediate recordplaying cycles. The first three change cycles are record-changing cycles, and the last is a shutofi cycle. Initially the stack of three records (comprising two records and one 12" record) are placed upon the supporting arms 4|. During the first change cycle, the lowermost record is released to the turntable and the other two records come to rest on the arms 4|, where they remain during the succeeding record-playing operation. During the second change cycle, the second 10" record falls to the turntable on top of the first record, and the third record is lowered to rest on the arms 4 I. During the third change cycle, the 12 record is deposited upon the other records on the turntable, and the three records remain on the turntable until they are removed after the final change cycle.

Opposite the second legend, Spindle Knob,- is shown the position of the knob or cap 50 at the top of the spindle l5. manually raised position whereby, the recordsupporting arms 4| were lowered or retracted within the spindle, e. g. for removal of records previously played from the turntable. Before placing the three records on the spindle, the cap 50 is manually depressed to its lower manual position (shown in Fig.5), raising the arms to record-supporting position. This -manipulation of the spindle knob or cap 50 is conveniently effected merely by resting the three records on the top of the knob before they are placed on the spindle. During the first three change cycles, in each of which a record is supported-on the arms4I, the cap 50 descends to its lowermost position wherein the arms 4| are retractedto release the record resting thereon to the turntable. During the last change cycle, cap 50 descends only slightly, together with operating rod 39 since the latter is prevented from descending all the way by the counterbalancing force of tension spring 6| acting through lever 59. Hence, the cap descends only the small distance effected by the compression spring 38 operating to compress rubber collar 34 on the spindle. Finally, after completion of the last change cycle, the cap 50 is manually raised to release arms 4| to retracted position, so that the stack of records can be removed by lifting them over, the spindle from the turntable. 1

Opposite the third legend, Reject Knob, is indicated the position of knob I42. The latter is pushed inward, and then returned to its initial position by spring I43, to start the phonograph and to initiate the first change cycle. It is again operated in the same manner to interrupt playing of the second record after it has been deposited on the turntable, to start a change cycle during which the third record is released for playing.

The cap is initially in Opposite the next legend, Motor Switch, is plotted the on or off condition of the switch I03 in the circuit of the turntable motor I6. The switch is initially closed by pushing in the Reject Knob I42 and remains closed until the end of the last change cycle.

Opposite the next legend, Playing Needle, is shown the vertical position of the stylus-carrying end of the tone arm I'I. Initially, the latter is in its lowered inoperative position, in which the stylus just clears the surface of the turntable, such clearance being adjusted by vertical setting of the push rod 8 I. During each record-changing cycle it is raised for initial outward movement away from the spindle, and then inward to a record-playing position in which it is again lowered. During the last change cycle, the stylus of the tone arm is similarly moved but is finally lowered to an inoperative or shut-off position beyond the periphery of the records on the turntable.

Opposite the next legend, Tone Arm, is plotted-the angular velocity of the tone arm ll toward and away from the spindle I5. The tone arm is initially in shut-off position, beyond the periphery of the turntable. During the first change cycle, it is moved first outward away from the turntable, then inward to record-playing position in which it is lowered upon the record which has been released to the turntable. At the end of the ensuing record-playing operation, engagement of the stylus with the grooves of the record carries the arm slowly inward and then at a faster rate along the lead-in spiral. As the stylus engages the eccentric grooves in the record, it moves outward a short distance, such movement initiating the next change cycle. During the second change cycle the tone arm is again moved outward to the limit of its angular motion then inward to record-playing position in which it begins to play the second record. However, in response to operation of the reject knob I42, indicated above, and before the second record has been played to the end, a change cycle is manually initiated, and movement of the tone arm occurs inthe same manner as in the preceding change cycle. When the tone arm has played the third record, engagement with the lead-in spiral and the eccentric groove causes it to initiate the last change cycle, during which the tone arm is moved outward to the limit of its angular motion, as before, and then inward to shut-off position, just beyond the periphery of the records on the turntable, thus returning to its initial position.

Opposite the legend, 12" Feeler, is shown the position of the loopv I09 which moves into range of the edge of a 12" record as it drops from the supporting arms 41 to the turntable I2 during'each change cycle. The loop is moved out of range of the 12" record when the tone arm moves inward to (or beyond) shut-oft position.

The next legend, Interrupted Wheel, refers to operation of disk II 4 which constitutes the motive power device for the record-changing mechanism. As shown by the plotted line, this disk is rotated throughout each change cycle, and is at rest at other times, each change cycle corresponding to one revolution of the disk.

Opposite the next legend, Tone Arm Gone," is shown the velocity of the conical cam 81 along its track 88. As shown in Fig. 4, track 88 extends away from the spindle I5 so that movement of 11 is fir t away from and then toward the arr-react 21 spindle; during? each. change cycle; The cam moves inward: along its track toxthe-limit thereof (1-. e: away from. the spindle during: the first half of the changecycle) and then. returns to its initial position in the track (during the second half of. the change cycleiz.

The position of the index lever. 95 is shown opposite the next legend, said lever moving in-- ward. to a position for arrestingtlre tone arm in arecord-playing position (if a record is supported on arms 4|) as: conical cam 81 reaches the inner end of: itstravel along track 88:, while during the last change cycle, it is similarly moved inward to a position for arresting the. tone arm in shut-off position (by reason of. the; fact. that no. record is carried by arms. 4|). At. the. end of eachchange. cycle, the lever95-is moved outward to its initial inoperative osition by engagement of the cam 81- with the cam surface 99 on the end of the index. lever.

Opposite the legend, Arm Carrier, is shown the position or theoperator rod- 39 of the spindle I5, :said. rod descending. during the first three change cycles tothe limitof its downward movement-byreason of. the weight of the record carried on arms. 4t. During the: last change cycle, it descends only a small distance under the. influence of spring 38, further movement being prevented by the counter-balancing. effect of tension spring BI, in the absence ofa record supported on the arms 4.I..

The next legend, Gripping Band, refers. to the condition. of the rubber collar 34 which is adapted togrip the central aperture'of the record above. the. one supported. on arms. 41;. During each change cycle, this collar is compressed during the initial downward movement of. the arm carrier or operating rod 39 to retain. all but the bottom record of the stack in supported position on; the spindle, and then relaxed during the final upward movement of said operating rod adjacent the end of. each change cycle.

Opposite the legend Arms, is shown the condition of the arms -4':I- onthe spindle. Initially, they are lowered or' retracted by reason of the fact that cap 50 is in manuallyraisedposition. Before the records are placed on the spindle; the arms are moved to extended record supp'orting position by manipulation of the spindle knob referred to. above: During the; first three change cycles they are momentarily lowered when the armcarrier or operating-rod 39' reaches the lowest portion' of its. downward movement, so as to release the record supported thereby to drop upon. the turntable. Initial upward movement of the. arm carrier or operating rod 39 resets the armsto record-supporting position, and final upward movement of the rod releases the gripping.

bandorrubber collar 34 to permit the-rest. of the stack to rest upon. 'thearms. During. the final change cycle, the arms -4=I= are not released sinceof plate 11. During. the third change cycle, in.

which a 1'2"" record drops from the arms 4|, to the turntable l2l,-. the 12"" feeler, upon. contact with the edge of the .record,.mov es. the auxiliary The latter nor-- index member III4- outward to operative position in which it is latched by engagement. of tang; I III with the edge of plate. I1. It remains in latched position during inward. movement of the tone arm, so as to arrest the tone arm in initialrecordplayingposition for the 12" record. Thereafter, when plate 11 is released by cam 81, the styluscarrying end of the tone arm is lowered to recordplaying position. Contact of the tip I .06 withthe underlying surface (of plate II or' index lever unlatches the tang I I0 from the edge'ofxplate I1 and the member I04 returns to inoperative position.

Opposite the; next: two legends, both referring to the position of the Tripping Lever, i. e.. the lever. [28, .is shown. the position of the. hook I32 on. the end ofv said lever with reference to the channel I21, and the locking. groove or notch I36. Thus, initially, the hooked. end I32. of said lever is moved outward from the notch I36 across the channel. I21 in response to manipulation of the reject knob I42 to start the phonograph. Upon releasing the. knob, the end of lever I28 moves toward the inner rim of the channel under the influence of spring I30, and at the same time rotates disk II4 through the frictional engagement of arm I23 to start the change cycle. During the change cycle, the hooked end of the lever rests against the inner rim of channel I21 until it again engages thev notch I36 as the interrupted portion I22 of the periphery of .disk II4 again reaches. the rotating hub 24 of the turntable, and rotationof the disk I I4 ceases- A similar opera tion occurs in response to manipulation of the reject knob I42 during the playing of the second record, to initiate the succeeding change cycle.

In the second line bearing thelegend Tripping Lever, is shown the positionv of the hooked end I32 of the lever I28 during automatic operation. In this case the. lever I28 is moved so as to push the hooked end I32 outward across channel I21 by engagement of its: opposite end with nose I3! on plate 11;, as the stylus-bearing end of the tone arm" I1: is carried inward, during the latter part of. the record-playing. interval, along the last playinggrooves of a record, and along the lead-in spiral. arm when its. stylus enters the eccentric groove of the record causes nose I31 torel'ease the end of lever I28, allowing spring I30 to retract the lever, and initiate rotation of the disk I I4, thereby starting' the succeeding changecycle. In the first.'case the change cycle thusinitiated is a record-changing cycle, and in the second case, a shut-01f cycle.

It will be noted that relatively few parts are required in the device of my invention to performthe complicated operationsrequired for changing records; shutting off the phonograph, and coordinating operation of the tone arm during'record-changing operation. The parts of the device are of simple construction, easily manufactured, assembled or dismantled for replacement or repair;

All of the interconnected parts of the mecha-- nism are. coupledby friction drives which permit independent manipulation of variousv parts of the mechanism without damage to any of the parts thereof, and in such a. manner as to permit automatic operation to. be resumed regardless of the position to which any of. the parts may have been moved. by deliberate or casual manipulation.

Changes can be made in various parts of the Initial outward movement of the tone mechanism without departing from the scope of the invention. Those parts which perform dual functions can be replaced by separate members, and the power for operating the recordchanging mechanism can be derived from a separate motor other than that for rotating the turntable.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. In a phonograph having a horizontal turntable for receiving record disks, a spindle projecting upward from the level of the turntable and concentric therewith to receive a stack of record disks; an exposed annulus of rubber-like material on said spindle; said annulus being expansible to grip the peripheral surface of the central aperture of a record disk to hold said record disks in position on the spindle and contractible to release said disks; means for supporting a record disk above the level of the turntable comprising a plurality of arms pivoting within the spindle and rotatably movable about their pivots between outwardly extending record-supporting position adjacent said annulus with the sides of the arms receiving and supporting the disks released by the annulus when the annulus is contracted, and downwardly collapsed record-releasing position within the spindle wherein the sides of the arms are out of engagement with the disk to deposit the lowermost disk on the turntable after the annulus has been expanded to grip the next disk in the stack whereby the distance the lowermost disk drops to the turntable is reduced to a minimum; means to expand the annulus to grip the peripheral surface of the central aperture of the next disk in the stack; and operating'means within the spindle for moving said arms between record-supporting and record-releasing position.

2. In a phonograph having a horizontal turntable for receiving record disks, a spindle projeeting upward from the level of the turntable and concentric therewith; an exposed annulus of rubber-like material on said spindle; said annulus being expansible to grip the peripheral surface of the central aperture of a record disk to hold said record disk on the spindle and contractible to release said disk; an axially movable operator within said spindle; a plurality of arms pivotally mounted on said operator and rotatably movable between outwardly extending recordsupporting position and downwardl collapsed record-releasing position within the spindle, said plurality of arms being capable of being moved to a record-supporting position subjacent said annulus to receive the disks released by the annulus when contracted, said arms then being capable of being moved downwardly to a recordreleasing position and being collapsed to deposit the lowermost disk on the turntable after the annulus has been expanded to grip the disk superjacent the lowermost disk being deposited, whereby the distance the lowermost disk drops to the turntable is reduced to a minimum; means to expand the annulus to grip the peripheral surface of the central aperture of the disk superjacent the lowermost disk; and means within the spindle for moving said arms to record-supporting position in response to predetermined movement of said operator in one direction in the spindle, and releasing said arms for movement to record-releasing position upon movement of said operator in the opposite direction of said spindle.

3. In a phonograph having a horizontal turntable for receiving record disks, a spindle projecting upward from the level of the turntable and concentric therewith; an exposed annulus of rubber-like material on said spindle; said annulus being expansible to grip the peripheral surface of the central apertureof a record disk to hold said record disk on the spindle and contractibe to release said disk; an axially movable operator within said spindle; a plurality of arms pivotally mounted on said operator and rotatably movable between radially extending recordsupporting position and downwardly collapsed record-releasing position within the spindle, said plurality of arms being capable of being moved to a record-supporting position subjacent said annulus to receive the disks released by the annulus when contracted, said arms then being capable of being moved downwardly to a recordreleasing position and being collapsed to deposit the lowermost disk on the turntable after the annulus has been expanded to grip the disk superjacent the lowermost disk being deposited, whereby the distance the lowermost disk drops to the turntable is reduced to a minimum; means to expand the annulus to grip the peripheral surface of the central aperture of the disk superjacent the lowermost disk; means within the spindle for moving said arms to record-support ing position in response to predetermined movement of said operatorin one direction in the spindle, and releasing said arms for movement to record-releasing position upon movement of said operator in the opposite direction of said spindle; and manually adjustable means for rendering the last-named means inoperative to move said arms to record-supporting position.

4. In a phonograph having a horizontal turn table for receiving record disks, a spindle prol'ecting upward from the level of the turntable and concentric therewith; an exposed annulus of rubber-like material on said spindle; said annulus being expansible to grip the peripheral surface of the central aperture of a record disk to hold said record disk on the spindle and contractible to release said disk; an axially movable operator within said spindle; a plurality of arms pivotally mounted on said operator and rotatably movable about their pivots between radially extending position for supporting a record disk on the spindle and downwardly collapsed recordreleasing position within the spindle, said plurality of arms being capable of being moved to a record-supporting position subjacent said annulus to receive the disks released by the annulus when contracted, said arms then being capable. of being moved downwardly to a recordreleasing position and being collapsed to deposit the lowermost disk on the turntable after the annulus has been expanded to grip the disk superjacent the lowermost disk being deposited, whereby the distance the lowermost disk drops to the turntable is reduced to a minimum; means to expand the annulus to grip the peripheral surface of the central aperture of the disk superjacent the lowermost disk; and a cam within said spindle for moving said arms to extended position upon predetermined upward movement of said operator in the spindle, said cam releasing said arms for movement to record-releasing'position upon downward movement of said operator in the spindle, said cam being manually adjuste able to render the same inoperative to move said arms to record-supporting position.

5. In a phonograph having a horizontal turnaria-its tabiepior receiving record disks, a spindle rorsupporting a. Stack of record disks above a turntable and fo" releasing said record disks, one'ait a t to deposit the same upon said turntable, said sp'indle including a plurality of jarms pivotaiiv mounted in the spindle for rotationaI movement between radially extending record-supp position which the sides or the arms engage and support the disk and downwardly collapsed reeordFreleasing position within the spindle wheie'inthe sides of the armsare moved out or supporting engagement with the disk to deposit theiowermost disk on the turntable; an exposed annulus of rubber-like material on said spindle above and adjacentto said arms for gripping the peripheral surface of the aperture in a record disk overlying a disk supported on said arms,

said plurality of arms receiving the disks released by the annulus when contracted; and means" in said spindle operating onsaid' arms and annulus for successively expanding said annulus to holding position, collapsing said arms to deposit a record disk supported thereby on the turntable, returning said arms to record-supporting position, and contracting said annulus to record disk-releasing condition.

6. In a phonograph having a horizontal turntable for receiving record disks, a spindle for supporting a stack of record disks above a turntable material on said spindle adjacent and above said arms; means within the spindle normally compressingfsaid annulus to grip the peripheral surface ofthe aperture of a record disk adjacent and above a disk supported by said arms when thelat ter are extended; and means within said spindle for successively moving said arms to record-supporting extended position and for releasing the compression'of said annulusto release the record held thereby upon a predetermined upward movement or said operator in the spindle, said means successively compressing said annulus; and releasing' saidarms for collapse thereof to deposit the disksupported thereby on the'turntabl'e' upon predetermined movement of said operator in a downward" direction within the spindle.

7. In a phonograph having a horizontal turntable for receiving record disks, a spindlehaving meansthereon for supporting a stack of records and releasing said records, meet a time, to deposit t he s'a-meon a turntable; an axially movable operator within said spindle for en'eoting said record-releasing operation; a cam follower on the lower end of said operator; cam'means comprising two distinct surfaces alternately'cooperatingwith said cam follower, cooperation with the follower with-one-of said cam surfaces initiating a shut-offv operation'andwith the other of said cam surfaces initiating-a record-playingoperation; and means counterbalancing said operator and said support means tocause said cam follower to cooperate with the first or said cam surfaces, said counterbalancing mean-s'heing' overba'lance'dby the weight of a reeord' on said supporting" means to cause said cam follower to cooperate with the other cam surface during a record-releasing operation ofsaid operator.

8". In an automatic record changer'havin'g a or the his and a: tone pivotan mo'u'iii ed ror'mo eme'nt toward andawjaynoin the spindle and movable between raised iiecord disengaging and lowered recordlayin position; 3 E011" ni'si'n is raising and i wering Said tone arm andyror moving it inward toward the splnd e and outward therefrom while ra,ed. comprising a platje'rnounted for ivotal vrnovenie'n't about an ioular to the plate, and able in aloiig'ljthfe pivotaxisj in ns" oper ably o'onjfiiitingsaid plate to the tone arm for moving thelatter about its pivot upon rotation of the plate and for raising and lowering the tone arm upon axial movement of the plate; cam means Comprising a track having a portion extending radially from the plate and a communicating inner arcuate portion co-axial with the plate; a cam movable along said track and means for moving said cam inward and outward along the radial and areuate portions of said track during a record-changing cycle; inward and outward movement of the cam in said radial portion of the track moving the plate in axial direction, respectively to raise and lower the tone arm, and movement of the cam along th arcuate portion of the track toward and away from said radial portion moving the plate in op osite directions abont its axisto move the tone arm respectively outwardand inwardabout its pivot.

9: an automatic record changer having a horizontal turntable for re'oeiving record disks, .5. central spindle projecting upward from the level of the turntable, and a tone arm pivotally mounted for movement toward and away from the spindle and movable between raised recor disengaging and lowered record-playing position mechanism for raising and lowering said tone arm and for moving it inward toward the spindleand outward therefrom while raised, comprising a connecting said plate to the tone arm for moving the latter about its pivot upon rotation of the plate and for raising and lowering the tone arin upon axial movement of the plate; a cam movable along said track, having an inclined surface for' engaging .the peripheral portion of said plate to raise the" same and lift the tone arm upon inward movement of the cam in the radial portion of said track, and to lower said plate and tone'arni upon outward movement therein, said cam having a top' portion frictionally engaging the surface of the plate during inward and outward travel of the cam in the arcuate portion of the track to move said plate and tone arm respectively outward and inward about their pivots; and'means' for moving said camiinward and outward along both portions of said track during arecord-changing' operation.

10. In an automatic record changer having a 

